Football
1 July, 2024
Swifts huge second half leads them to victory
An eight-goal-to-three second half saw the Swifts storm to victory over the Tigers at North Park on Saturday in round eleven of the Horsham District Football Netball League.
The Tigers came out strong in the first quarter, winning the contested ball and playing well despite trailing by two points at quarter-time.
They kept it tight in the second quarter, but the Swifts extended the margin to five points at half-time.
In the third quarter, the Tigers came out slow again and managed only two behinds as the Swifts kicked four goals to lead by 28 points at the last break.
The Tigers fought hard in the last quarter, but the damage was already done, with the Swifts winning 11.12.78 to 5.13.43.
Paul Summers kicked another six goals, four of which came in the last quarter, to bring his tally to 72 for the season. Tallis Miles and Chevy Elliott, the latter playing his third game for the club, were also outstanding on the day.
The Tigers had five individual goalkickers, with Matthew Roser, Dylan Thomas, and Jason Westley being their best players.
Swifts coach Brett Hargreaves said they weren't panicked at half-time.
"The Tigers challenged us in the first half and played well, and I told the boys at half-time not to panic and that if we tweaked our game a bit and became first to the ball, we would be better," Hargreaves said.
"I put it on our on-ball brigade and was critical of them as we were just giving the Tigers too much latitude and giving away too many meters and were chipping the ball away, which wasn't good enough.
"Everyone responded. We took time and space and started to win the footy, and the tide turned."
"We can't be winning by big margins every match, so the fact we were tested was a good learning curve, and we know what we can adjust moving forward."
Tigers coach Guy Smith said the boys know their best is good enough but can't maintain it for four quarters.
"We did what we were supposed to do in the first half but didn't come out firing in the third quarter," Smith said.
"It was frustrating as we are proving we can match it with the best. It's not fitness; it's more mental and something we must work on.
"Our back six was good, and we did well to minimise Summer's impact in the first half, and our strategy worked."
"We are still learning, and we will get there eventually."